American Society of Nephrology, Nov. 15-20

The annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology was held from Nov. 15 to 20 in Chicago and attracted approximately 13,000 participants from around the world, including nephrology specialists, researchers, scientists, and other health care professionals. The conference featured presentations focusing on the latest advances in the management of patients with kidney diseases and related disorders.

In one study, Viviane Calice-Silva, M.D., Ph.D., of the Pro-Kidney Foundation in Brazil, and colleagues found that a salivary urea nitrogen (SUN) dipstick, a simple, inexpensive bedside tool, is effective in diagnosing and monitoring kidney disease in a low-resource setting.

"Since in the present study, high SUN levels were independently associated not only with the standard diagnostic measures, but also with higher risk of death, we postulate that this tool has the potential to be used as a diagnostic and monitoring tool in clinical practice, particularly in low-resource settings," Calice-Silva said. "Our data suggest that SUN can improve the detection of kidney disease, increasing the awareness of this devastating complication. Also, higher awareness and detection of kidney disease in low-resource settings may increase the number of patients diagnosed and referred, therefore receiving appropriate treatment and improving outcomes."

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

In another study, Ryuji Morizane, M.D., Ph.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues found that characterization of kidney organoids revealed compartmentalized regions of cells expressing markers of the connecting tubules/collecting ducts, endothelia, pericytes, and fibroblasts in addition to nephron-like structures.

"Additionally, we demonstrated the proof of concept of modeling genetic kidney disease using kidney organoids. Kidney organoids generated with our protocol possess functional characteristics of in vivo human kidneys, and can be used as a novel platform in vitro to model human autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) when generated from patients," Morizane said. "Our organoid system enables in vitro studies of kidney pathophysiology, nephrotoxicity assays, and disease modeling using human tissue, and ultimately will lead to development of bioengineered kidneys for regeneration medicine. Establishment of a novel platform to model ARPKD using human kidney organoids will facilitate studies on mechanisms of cyst formation, and will contribute to the development of chemical screening systems to find potential therapeutic agents for polycystic kidney disease."

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

Ana C. Ricardo, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Illinois in Chicago, and colleagues found that short sleep and fragmented or interrupted sleep are significant, yet unappreciated, risk factors for chronic kidney disease progression.

"Among 432 adults enrolled in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study followed for about five years, we found that each additional hour of nighttime sleep was associated with a 19 percent reduction in the risk for progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), defined as dialysis initiation or kidney transplantation," Ricardo said. "In addition, we observed a significant association between fragmented sleep and the risk for ESRD (each 1 percent increase in sleep fragmentation was associated with a 4 percent increase in the risk of ESRD), as well as a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate over time."

Two authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

MONDAY, Nov. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A multidisciplinary care (MDC) model seems cost-effective for chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology (Kidney Week), held from Nov. 15 to 20 in Chicago.

MONDAY, Nov. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Acute kidney injury is associated with increased risk of 28-day mortality among critically ill children and young adults, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology (Kidney Week), held from Nov. 15 to 20 in Chicago.

FRIDAY, Nov. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of medication taken during early stages of chronic kidney disease, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology (Kidney Week), held from Nov. 15 to 20 in Chicago.

FRIDAY, Nov. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Acid suppression therapy is associated with increased incidence of kidney stones and chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to two studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology (Kidney Week), held from Nov. 15 to 20 in Chicago.

THURSDAY, Nov. 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A tele-nephrology program is a feasible way to deliver dialysis at rural hospitals, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology (Kidney Week), held from Nov. 15 to 20 in Chicago.